WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden will converse to Vladimir Putin on Saturday after the USA warned {that a} Russian invasion of Ukraine could start in days.

The US had dramatically raised the alarm over Ukraine on Friday, saying a Russian invasion beginning with civilians caught below aerial bombing could start in days and telling US residents to depart inside 48 hours.

An attack by the greater than 100,000 Russian troops at present massed subsequent to Ukraine “could occur any day now,” White Home Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan informed reporters in Washington.

Dismissing hypothesis that the Kremlin would by no means set off the disaster whereas the Beijing Olympics had been nonetheless underway in shut Russian ally China, Sullivan stated such an attack “could occur” earlier than the Video games finish on February 20.

The situation of an imminent attack is “a very, very distinct possibility,” Sullivan added.

Whereas stressing that it was not but recognized whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin had taken a call, saying “we can’t predict the exact determination,” Sullivan made clear the USA was bracing for the worst, together with a “rapid assault” on the capital Kyiv.

“If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians,” he stated. “Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Sullivan spoke shortly after President Joe Biden and 6 European leaders, the heads of NATO and the European Union held talks on the worst disaster between the West and Russia because the finish of the Chilly Battle.

A US official stated Biden would converse with Putin on Saturday, whereas the French authorities stated that President Emmanuel Macron would even be calling the Russian chief on Saturday.

Underlining the awful outlook, a string of nations joined the exodus of diplomats and residents from Ukraine, whereas oil costs surged and US equities tumbled.

Western, NATO unity

Sullivan repeated warnings that Russia dangers extreme Western sanctions and stated that NATO, which Putin desires to push again from jap Europe, is now “more cohesive, more purposeful, more dynamic than any time in recent memory.”

The Pentagon introduced it was sending 3,000 extra troops to bolster ally Poland.

And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a cellphone name “that Ukraine continues to have the United States’ enduring and steadfast support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the State Division stated.

Following the sooner group cellphone name between US and European leaders, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s spokesman stated “the aim is to prevent a war in Europe.” But when Moscow fails to tug again, “the allies are determined to jointly take swift and deep sanctions against Russia.”

These sanctions would goal the monetary and vitality sectors, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stated.

Sullivan spoke to der Leyen’s chief of workers Bjoern Seibert by video name on Friday to coordinate “the details of a potential transatlantic response, including both financial sanctions and export controls,” in line with a White Home assertion.

Russia surrounding Ukraine

Russian naval forces and troops, together with items introduced in from everywhere in the huge nation, now encompass Ukraine to the south, east and north.

Russia, which denies any plan to attack Ukraine, already controls the Crimea territory seized in 2014 and helps separatist forces controlling Ukraine’s Donbas area within the east.

The Kremlin says its purpose is to get NATO to comply with by no means give Ukraine membership and in addition to withdraw from jap European international locations already within the alliance, successfully carving Europe into Chilly Battle-style spheres of affect. The US and its European allies reject the calls for, insisting that NATO poses no menace to Russia.

Including to tensions, large-scale Russian navy drills had been underway Friday with authoritarian ally Belarus, which lies simply north of Kyiv and in addition borders the European Union.

Russia’s protection ministry stated Friday it was additionally holding navy workouts close to Ukraine’s border within the Black Sea.

In response to the pinnacle of Norway’s navy intelligence service, Russia is operationally able to conduct a variety of navy operations in Ukraine and the Kremlin simply must make the decision.

The highest US normal and his Russian counterpart talked Friday by cellphone, the Pentagon stated, giving no particulars of the dialogue.

And the European Union stated its non-essential workers ought to go away Ukraine, whereas Israel stated households of its diplomats had been being pulled out. Norway joined Britain in telling its nationals to depart.

Shuttle diplomacy

The rising alarm comes regardless of efforts at shuttle diplomacy by European officers.

Macron visited each Moscow and Kyiv earlier this week and Scholz is predicted to do the identical within the coming days. Scholz may even maintain his first in-person assembly with Putin in Moscow.

British Protection Secretary Ben Wallace was in Moscow Friday for uncommon talks together with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

He was accompanied by the UK’s Chief of Protection Employees Tony Radakin, and the pair may even meet Russia’s prime military normal Valery Gerasimov.